Die Scheiere (Barns)
Ich gleich Scheiere sehne! Fer was? Ich waar uff re Bauerei gebore un uffgewaxe un ya, gewiss, mer henn en Scheier ghat! Unser Scheier waar rot. So wann ich wege die Fareb vun re Scheier denk, denk ich vun rot. Unser ganz Scheier waar rot mit weisse Raneft an de Diere un Fenschdere gemolt. Deel Leit saage as die Scheiere rot gemolt sin so as die Kieh kenne der Weg Heem finne. Awwer des kann net waahr sei weil Kieh sin Fareb-blind zu der Fareb rot!
(I like to see barns. Why? I was born and raised on a farm and, yes, we certainly had a barn! Our barn was red. So when I think about the color of a barn, I think of red. Our entire barn was painted red with white trim on the doors and windows. Some people say that barns are painted red so that the cows can find their way home. But this can not be true because cows are colorblind to the color red!)
Nau gebt’s unnerschittliche Farewe vun Scheiere. Die Fareb weiss iss gut bekannt. Fer en modern Voschein gleiche deel Leit en grohi Fareb. Noch en Fareb iss grie un heest alsemohl ‘Paris Grie’ odder Schweinfurt Grie. Es heest Schweinfurt weil es iss aus Schweinfurt, Bavaria kumme. Es gebt aa bloh un annere Farewe. Awwer fer mich, gleich ich rot am beschde!
(Now there are different colors of barns. The color white is well known. For a modern appearance some people like a gray color. Another color is green and is sometimes called ‘Paris green’ or Schweinfurt green. It is called Schweinfurt green because it originated from Schweinfurt, Bavaria. There are also blue and other colors. But for me, I like red the best!)
Viel Yaahre zerick hot der William Penn es Land Pennsifaani grickt. Er hot Freiheit fer Relichion un wolfel Land verschrpoche fer Leit wer doh kumme gewollt henn. Viel Deitsche Familye sin noch Pennsilfaani kumme un weil die menschde Bauere waare, henn sie Scheiere gebaut, Baenkscheiere. Noch en Naame fer die Baenkscheier iss die
Swiss odder Schweitzer Scheier. Sie waare Baenkscheiere gheese weil sie uff em Baenk gebaut waare. Wagge uffgfillt mit de Ern waare uff die Baenk un in die Scheier leicht gfaahre wu sie abglaade waare. Die Baenk vanne an die Scheier heest aa alsemol die Scheierhiwwel odder Scheierbrick. Die Ern waare owwedrowwe un die Gediere waare unnedrin.
(Many years ago William Penn obtained the land of Pennsylvania. He promised freedom of religion and inexpensive land for people who wanted to come. Many German families came to Pennsylvania and because they were mostly farmers, they built barns, bank barns. Another name for bank barn is the Swiss or Schweitzer barn. They were called bank barns because they were built onto a bank. Wagons filled with crops were easily driven up the bank and into the barn where they were unloaded. The bank in front of the barn is sometimes called the barn hill or barn bridge. The crops were in the top and the animals were below.)
Die Scheiere waare schier gaar allsfatt gege Sudde gebaut so as die Sunn meh Waerming fer die Gediere im Winder gewwe hot kenne. Sie waare aa gebaut mit me Vorbauer as en ‘overhang’ iss. Des waar wichdich weil es hot meh Blatz owwedrowwe fer die Ern gewwe un deel Verwaahring vum Wedder drunne fer die Gediere.
(Barns were almost always built to face towards the South so that the sun could provide more warmth for the animals in the winter. They were also built with a forebay which is an ‘overhang.’ This was important because it gave more room above for the crops and some protection from weather below for the animals.)
Die Scheierediere as drunne sin, sin Deitschdiere. Sie henn zwee Sections. Die Ewwerscht kann uff sei fer Luft reikumme un unne kann zu bleiwwe so as die Gediere net rauskumme kenne.
(The barn doors that are below are Dutch doors. They have two sections. The top can be opened for ventilation and the bottom closed so that the animals can not come out.)
Viel Scheiere henn Scheierschtanne an sie gemolt. In schtatz vun Scheierschtanne deel Leit heese sie Scheierzeeche. Sie sin schee mit viele Farewe un Designs. Deel henn aa Blumme an sie gemolt. An unsere Scheier sin die Naame un Yaahre vun meine Voreldre gemolt.
(Many barns have barn stars painted on them. Instead of barn stars some people call them hex signs. They are beautiful
with many colors and designs. Some also have flowers painted on them. On our barn the names and years of my ancestors are painted.)
Wann ich Scheiere sehn, mache sie mich froh yuscht wie Felder duhne. Ich denk es iss weil ich en Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Bauereimaedel bin!
(When I see barns, they make me happy just like fields do. I think it is because I am a Pennsylvania German farm girl!)
Bis schpeeder… (Until later)
Yuscht es Bauereimaedel aus Kutzeschteddel, die Mary Laub (Just the farm girl from Kutztown, Mary Laub)
When I see barns, they make me happy just like fields do. I think it is because I am a Pennsylvania German farm girl!